How to Improve Ride Quality

DAZ · May 14, 2006

My 2000 GT rides like farm tractor with steel hoop wheels. On city streets, every bump on the road feels like I hit a 2ft deep pot hole. The dash rattles and squeeks and the impact makes CD skip. The hole car flexes and feels like it is going to fall apart. Being a convertible some flex is expected, but these
are road conditions that would not even be felt in a Toyota Corola!
Any suggestions? What is the best product to give me a smooth ride. I do not drag race the car, it is a daily driver. Most city miles and some highway.
If no other choice, I would prefer smooth ride over cornering and quick launch.

Kilgore Trout · May 14, 2006

All you need is new shocks and struts. The factory ones are junk and were probably shot after 20k miles.

I got Gabriel SVT shocks and struts at AutoZone for around $100 for all four and easily installed the myself. Monroe is another good budget choice.

Everyone else here will tell you to spend $600 on a set of Bilsteins. They are great if you can afford them.

www.maximummotorsports.com
www.autozone.com

Also, those aftermarket LCA and UCAs are probably not helping the problem.

DAZ · May 14, 2006

McTeague said:
All you need is new shocks and struts. The factory ones are junk and were probably shot after 20k miles.

I got Gabriel SVT shocks and struts at AutoZone for around $100 for all four and easily installed the myself. Monroe is another good budget choice.

Everyone else here will tell you to spend $600 on a set of Bilsteins. They are great if you can afford them.

www.maximummotorsports.com
www.autozone.com

Also, those aftermarket LCA and UCAs are probably not helping the problem.

Thanks for the quick reply. I checked the AUTOZONE site and they do not seem to carry the SVT Shocks anymore. Do you know if the GABRIEL_GUARDIAN shocks are an adequate substitute. The Auto Zone web site gives no detail.

tomustang · May 14, 2006

What the heck are Griffins Rear Upper/Lower Cntrl Arms?

no seriously?

Cantslowdown · May 14, 2006

B/W why dose it say you have a 6 banger..My g/f has a 6 banger and it seems to go over bumps alot better then my car..

DAZ · May 14, 2006

tomustang said:
What the heck are Griffins Rear Upper/Lower Cntrl Arms?

no seriously?

He was an aftermarket supplier around 3 years ago. He had some really great prices and the equipment worked great. Not sure where he went to

DAZ · May 14, 2006

Cantslowdown said:
B/W why dose it say you have a 6 banger..My g/f has a 6 banger and it seems to go over bumps alot better then my car..

I have three Mustangs, one sig.
2000 Mustang V6 Coupe for the winter
2000 Mustang V8 Convertible for the summer
1966 Mustang to fill space in my garage.

Kilgore Trout · May 14, 2006

DAZ said:
Thanks for the quick reply. I checked the AUTOZONE site and they do not seem to carry the SVT Shocks anymore. Do you know if the GABRIEL_GUARDIAN shocks are an adequate substitute. The Auto Zone web site gives no detail.

Yes, anything other than the stockers is going to be a huge and noticeable improvement. Trust me, when you equip those new struts/shocks you are going to be amazed at the difference.

Any Gabriel whatever or Monroe SensaTrak or whatever is going to be good. There are of course better and more expensive choices.

DAZ · May 14, 2006

I agree! No sense spending more money, with only slightly more marginal return.
Besides If they don't work as intended, I'm not out 500 to 800 bucks.

Kilgore Trout · May 14, 2006

The Hanyes manual or the Chiltons manual will show you how to do it.

Firemanz · May 14, 2006

Shocks and struts like stated above and some subframe connectors would be an improvement.....

Mel96GT · May 14, 2006

If your stang is flexing too much, you should consider some sub-frame connectors (SFC). However, if you do that you will need different springs since it will do "handstands" with the stock springs when you brake. The car will handle much better and not twist so much. I did it to mine and I am very happy with the results. FWIW, I think new shocks and struts are a good start.

Q's Stang · May 14, 2006

yeah my car goes all over the place when i hit bumps in the road too...i have kenny brown sfc's, but just the stock shocks & struts. are the bilstein's the only good option available? i dont mind spending an extra 600, especially looking on mustangtuning where it says they provide a lifetime warranty. are there any other good packages around?

Firemanz · May 14, 2006

Q's Stang said:
yeah my car goes all over the place when i hit bumps in the road too...i have kenny brown sfc's, but just the stock shocks & struts. are the bilstein's the only good option available? i dont mind spending an extra 600, especially looking on mustangtuning where it says they provide a lifetime warranty. are there any other good packages around?

Tokico makes a good shock and strut but you definitely can't go wrong with the Bilsteins. I have them on my Roush and they're night and day difference from the stock ones I had on my 2000 GT.

You still running the stock springs as well?

DAZ · May 14, 2006

Mel96GT said:
If your stang is flexing too much, you should consider some sub-frame connectors (SFC). However, if you do that you will need different springs since it will do "handstands" with the stock springs when you brake. The car will handle much better and not twist so much. I did it to mine and I am very happy with the results. FWIW, I think new shocks and struts are a good start.

The car already has sub frame connectors, stock on a convertible. I had considered changing them, however I think it correct to change shocks and struts first. I am going to Ford Carlisle in June to look for a strut tower brace and a light bar. The light bar, while 99% decorative, is supposed to ad a little stability and tighten up flex. Besides it looks cool and I told my wife it will help keep the wind from blowing her hat off

DAZ · May 14, 2006

Firemanz said:
Tokico makes a good shock and strut but you definitely can't go wrong with the Bilsteins. I have them on my Roush and they're night and day difference from the stock ones I had on my 2000 GT.

You still running the stock springs as well?

Still running stock springs. After experiencing this ride, I was very hesitant about lowering the car. I really hate rough rides. So much so that if I cant get this problem fixed, I am going to concentrate on getting my 66 back on the road as a daily driver..... it rides smoother and has 375 HP to push it.

Q's Stang · May 14, 2006

yeah...riding high! the only thing ive done to my suspension is the kenny brown sfc's...

im working over the summer before i have to go back to college & was looking into spending around 2 grand give or take on the stang. rims & a retint are the top things on my list, but if those bilsteins improve the ride quality a lot compared to the stock shocks/struts then i wouldnt mind spending an extra 600 bucks...

tomustang · May 14, 2006

DAZ said:
The car already has sub frame connectors, stock on a convertible. I had considered changing them, however I think it correct to change shocks and struts first. I am going to Ford Carlisle in June to look for a strut tower brace and a light bar. The light bar, while 99% decorative, is supposed to ad a little stability and tighten up flex. Besides it looks cool and I told my wife it will help keep the wind from blowing her hat off

Stock sub are junk, they're just bolts in which doesn't do ****.

Go pick up some new MM full length subs, and a strut tower brace (for cowl shake) some decent budget shocks/struts like KYB's are cheap but effective with warranties

If you want to do expensive 'smoother' you can do some quality coilovers, better placement of what holds your car up

the98stang · May 15, 2006

mustang's weren't made for good handling

buy a toyota or something

tomustang · May 15, 2006

the98stang said:
mustang's weren't made for good handling

buy a toyota or something

/kicks you in the junk

How to Improve Ride Quality

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